The Cornerstone Project of the CFC Singles for Christ has been around for a couple of years now. Volunteer teachers from across the different SFC and YFC chapters journey every Saturday morning to a chosen beneficiary school to teach needy kids how to read in basic English and values formation. This year, we've been blessed to be part of these kids' lives in Balanti Elementary School Unit 1 in Cainta, Rizal (just near the Katipunan-Sumulong border).For the most part, joining this project will definitely open you up to the realities, sometimes harsh, of our current education system. When we first met the kids last August, a group of around 30+ aging 9 to 13 (but still in Grades 1-3 level), we were actually surprised that a lot of them can't even read "play" or "find." But their school teachers give them passing grades just for the heck of moving them to the next grade level. You could make them sing songs, listen to stories, and play games, but could be really inattentive, rowdy, and uncompromising if they want to. And some even go there just to get free food. So how do you even start teaching boring English lessons one on one to kids who you very well know need special attention?
But over time we realized this bunch was indeed special. A lot of them learn, thank God, though some also may not. And you don't know what's wrong. Ate Tina and Ate July are really hands on in providing assistance to us and we even had coaching sessions to understand and identify if our kids had learning disabilities, but sometimes we ask ourselves if we're actually being helpful to them. But what amazes me is not the fact that us volunteers are alive and made it through until Feb so far. It's the fact that every Saturday, these kids keep going back. They go through the hassle of a sixth day in class when they can just stay at home and play. They walk or spend on transpo just to go to school when we all know they're saving these up for more important days. And we see no other reason but the fact that these kids, who have been marked by their classmates as "bobo" or "inutil" --- they just have that drive to go back and learn. Now tell me, who should be ashamed?I remember last December in one of our trainings when Kuya Paul (Halal) shared to us that he keeps these little bunch papers from way back his YFC days. Inserted in his Bible, these little risograph papers are written some kids' "dreams" --- maging jeepney driver, maging karpintero, et cetera, et cetera. This is his inspiration up to this day. We were all similarly touched by the fact that these kids have so much ahead of them, way beyond dreaming of becoming a jeepney driver or carpenter, only if they have access to good education. Our country is big, and we have thousands of children needing attention --- but we can definitely do something to build even just one dream for this country.
And so my brothers and sisters in faith we invite you all to join the Cornerstone project. You don't have to be a teacher or have an MA to be one. Next school year we're gonna be opening 2 or 3 schools for this, so our current numbers will definitely not be enough. March 1 will be a review session for final evaluation with the kids so you might want to feel how it's like to be immersed in time for next school year. :)
So if you want to know how Saturday mornings were possible for the volunteers who have crazy shift ours at work, it's pretty simple: God's grace. Let's all be witnesses to this budding hope and transformation. #
PS. Kudos to current volunteers from SSS Chapter: Ate Tina (Lead Tutor), Kuya Paul (Halal), Ate JC, Ate Ciela, Darmie, and Aira. You guys rock. :D
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